receive his father's message that he was
to come home at once, as the prophet Samuel had asked to see him before
leaving. It was an unexpected command, but young David was always ready
for any emergency, and so, simply taking up his shepherd's staff, which
was a long stick with a handle crooked in such a way that by its aid
David could examine the limbs of his flock, or roll a sheep over with
it, when unruly and without further preparation, David accompanied the
messenger, although filled with wonder as to the reason for being
summoned to appear before the aged prophet Samuel.

See him as he enters his home and stands before Samuel, red-cheeked,
fair-skinned, glowing with health and happiness, with arms strong
enough to break a bow of steel, and with limbs like a deer's in their
swiftness to escape a foe or to scale a wall. Sturdy and fearless he
stood before Samuel, the picture of youthful vigour and courage, and
when Samuel had scarcely more than glanced at him, the voice of God
spoke within the prophet saying:

"Arise, anoint him, for this is he."

Then Samuel rose with simple earnestness and laid a hand on David's
shoulder, looking long and solemnly into the clear bright eyes which
answered his glance, then more solemnly still, Samuel took up the horn
of oil which he had brought with him, and with the customary ceremony,
anointed David, the fair-haired young shepherd boy, to be the future
King of Israel. As only kings were anointed and Samuel always performed
this ceremony, Jesse could not have failed to understand the solemn
rite, although he must have marvelled over it, wondering why it should
be performed over this, his youngest and least important son.
Doubtless, although the Bible narrative does not tell us so, the aged
prophet later spoke to Jesse of the meaning of his act, and one can
imagine Jesse's flutter of heart at the thought that one of his boys
should have been chosen to fill such a great position. David also,
young as he was, must have understood in some measure what the ceremony
meant, although he must have been completely at a loss to understand
how he, a mere child, could be the Lord's anointed. Probably, like any
other boy of to-day, he wanted to ask questions, but there was not the
freedom allowed young people in those days that there is now and David,
looking from the awe-struck face of his father, to the solemn one of
the prophet, doubtless kept silent. Then with an appropriately
reverentia